Eiber composition



HERMAN von onset, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIBER COMPOSITION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

No Drawing. Application filed October 1-7, 1916, Serial No. 126,079.Renewed May 2, 1919. Serial no. 294,347.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN VON UFFEL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadel- "phia andState of Pennsylvania, have in- The object of the invention is toprovide a fiber composition which is made largely ing and as asubstitute for felt.

of material hitherto discarded as Worthless but which isparticularlysuitable for roof- The material referred to is coir, which constitutesthe husk, formed of fiber, and

the pithy material of the cocoanut. It can be obtained in greatquantities from various sources. This vegetable fibrous materlal may-bechemically treated and usedalone,

It may also be mixed with other fibers or impregnated and mixed withvarious suitable compounds, according to the use to which thecomposition is to be put.

' may be mixed and treated with various other substances, in accordancewith the use to which the product is to be put.

To render the coir fireproof it is treated with a non-inflammablecompound, preferably in the form of a solution, such, for example, as asolution of calcium compound in the form of lime water or bicarbonate ora solution of carbon tetrachlorid, etc. 1 I prefer to use a clearsolution of lime, with which the coir is washed or sprayed. The thinfilm of calcium hydroxid formed thereon is soon transformed partially ortotally into. a

fiber composi- The cocoa'nut fiber may be separated from the face, makesan excellent substitute for hair. and rag felt heretofore used.

To increaserthe strength of the husk ma terial and the toughness of theproduct made therefrom, the husk material is sprayed or washed with astrong saline solution or brine of common salt. This treatment of thematerial may be carried out previous or suband the lime water, it ismixed as a semi-wet masswith the artificial silica fiber. The, mixtureis then felted in the'usual manner. The proportions of mineral fiberandvegetable material may be varied according to the nature of theproduct desired.

A very excellent product is obtained by treating and saturating the coirand mineral fiber with a high-melting point, waterproof mastic compoundsubstantially free from oil, such, for example,- as gilsonite. Tothiscompound is added powdered .cal-

cium compound, such as air-slaked lime,

This

ground pure silica rock and mica. ralsesthe melting point of thewaterproof compound, and the product resulting from the incorporation-ofsaid compound is made non-inflammable. This mixture of the waterproofcompound, calcium. compound, silica rock, and mica is also especiallyada ted for impregnating any kind of felt or abric to.

render the same fireproof.

When fiber is separated from the pithy material of the coir, the pithymatenal is treated in substantially the same manner as has beendescribed with reference to the coir,

and may be used alone or with substances mentionedln connection with thecoir. The

pithy material can also be treated independently in the manner describedwith ref-- erence to the coir for making it fireproof and verminproof,and be used alone or in combination with other substances as referred"to above.

A composition made as herein described has great tensile strength, isnon-expansible, non-contractible, non-inflammable, heat insulating,comparatively light and flexible,

'and is extremely economical to manufacture. It forms a very goodsubstitute for hair-stock felt and is capable of various uses to whichfelt is usually put. It is easily compressible and, therefore, can bemolded to any desired shape.

I claim:

'1'. Cocoanut coir coated with a fireproof solution.

2. A fiber composition, including cocoanut coir treated with a solutionof a calcium compound to form a coating on the fiber which will turninto acarbonate when exposed to the atmosphere.

8. A fiber composition, including cocoanut coir which was treated with asolution 8. A fiber composition, including cocoanut coir, treated with acommon salt solucoatin mamas with the cocoanut coir.

9. A fiber composition comprising cocoa nut coir treated with a commonsalt solution and lime water, and an artificial silica fiber mixed withcocoanut coir.

10. A fiber composition consisting of cocoanut coir coated with a clearsolution of lime, mineral fiber mixed with the cocoanut coir, and awater and fireproof composition impregnatin the coir and fiber, saidcompound inclu ing powdered air-slaked lime, ground silica rock, andpowdered mica.

11. A fiber composition consisting of cocoanut coir treated with a clearsolution of lime, mineral fiber mixed with the cocoanut coir, and awater and fireproof composition the coir and fibers. ocoanut fibercoated with a fireproof solution.

13. Cocoanut fiber coated with a calcium compound adapted to beconverted into a carbonate by exposure to the atmosphere.

14. Cocoa'nut fiber treated with a clear solution of lime.

15. A vegetable fibrous material treated with a clear solution of lime.v

16. A vegetable fibrous material treated with a clear solution of limeand a saline solution.

17. A fibrous material treated with a clear solution of lime.

HERMAN VON UFFEL.

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